Ship insights: Our day onboard Sun Princess

After months of excitement, the day had finally arrived to join the ‘Sun Princess Shines in Southampton’ event and for us to take in our first steps onboard a Princess Cruises ship.

The day began at the impressive Carnival House where we were transported via shuttle buses that had been put on for the event. We were dropped right outside the terminal and check in was akin to the process when you arrive for a regular cruise. After some ID checks we picked up our medallions and were on our way to boarding the ship.

The Piazza

Our first stop when boarding was the Piazza where the red carpet had been rolled out and we were greeted by friendly staff to welcome us to the event, along with bar crew serving a mix of alcoholic and alcohol free drinks. The giant LED screens were adorned with the event name so we knew we were in the right place. Built inside a glass sphere, The Piazza is the beating heart of the ship where we found ourselves naturally being drawn back to as we explored the ship.

Staterooms

What’s a cruise ship tour without peaking behind the doors of a cabin? Fortunately for us, the team were one step ahead and opened up a range of cabins for us to explore including an Owners Suite and Signature Suite.

The Owners Suite offered a walk in wardrobe (with a cool sliding door opening to the bedroom), wrap around bathroom, two seating areas and a double balcony. Picking this cabin would certainly take your cruise experience to the next level.

The second cabin grade we checked out was a Signature; smaller than the owners suite however still offering plenty of room, including a spacious seating area. This cabin type is part of the Sanctuary collection which offers additional perks such as access to an exclusive restaurant, suite lounge and private pool area.

Dining

A self guided tour sure does burn the calories so we grabbed some pizza from the outside of the eatery. This was our first experience of the power of our medallions when the server knew who we were without having to tap anything. It’s incredible technology for speeding up service and safety but is it a bit big brother?

What are your thoughts on the medallion technology? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

In between the ‘What’s New, What’s Next’ presentation we were guided to the Horizons restaurant for a delicious three course meal between us we opted for the Salmon Trio and Heirloom Tomato Caprese to start followed up with the Beef Tenderloin and Grilled Lobster. Kudos here to the waiter who recognised something wasn’t right with the lobster on one of the players and promptly swapped the dish for us the meal was rounded off with the signature Princess Love Boat Dream with layers of chocolate-raspberry mouse and vanilla-raspberry cream the dessert was the perfect end to a fantastic experience in the main dining room.

Princess Arena

Holding a thousand guests, the Princess Arena is billed as the most technically advanced theatre at sea; guests are closer to the action with an amphitheatre feeling as the stage reaches into the centre of the arena. We were treated to a snippet of the show ‘Viva La Musica’, a Latin inspired show containing hits such as ‘Havana’ and ‘Hips Don’t Lie’. After dinner we returned to the arena for a surprise show from Eurovision sensation Sam Ryder playing some of his songs including the infamous Spaceman, to covers of some rock classics, the arena was on its feet to burn off those calories!

The Dome

Our last venue experience of the day was a visit to The Dome. Inspired by the terraces of Santorini, The Dome features a pool that is partially outdoor and partially indoor, something we’d never seen before. Offering up a tranquil place to relax during the day but by night it’s comes to life and Scott Mills closed the day with a fantastic DJ set.

Our final comment on the next level ‘Love Boat’

The day was impeccably organised including shuttles to and from the port; this level of organisation was evident throughout the day. We were able to experience multiple food and drink venues onboard and we were so impressed with them all. We had such a great day including networking with fellow cruise influencers and travel agents. We’d like to thank the Princess Cruises team for the invitation and look forward to sailing with them in the future.

Sun Princess is called the ‘next level’ Love Boat and we can see why! From modern technology with medallions instead of cruise cards to luxury state rooms and a whole host of spaces to eat, drink or unwind, there is something for everyone onboard no matter what you fancy doing.

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